Members of Local Lodge 2424:

Below is my original statement in reference to the Reduction In Force, AKA layoffs, that began this week. You will notice it was dated Monday, August 7th, which was when I was led to believe the actions would begin. Because this statement included just the numbers for ATSS, and not the other Contractors that work for DCSS, STC, and Bering Straits Global/ SpectraTech I was asked to pull this statement back until we knew the full scope of the layoff. Today, even as the actual layoffs have begun – I still believe we do not know the full correct number of members that will be impacted, so I will just put this information out to help address questions and concerns members will obviously have. I need to stress that layoffs are a process that involves mutliple players; the US Government, Contractor companies, and the Union. The Union’s role at this point is to ensure the process described in each collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is followed. We go over the lists with management and make them show their work of how they used the seniority lists properly to finalize the list of names. We do not get the challenge the amount of employees laid off by the US Government, or why it’s this number of this specific worker classification and not more of another classification. We just get to ensure the process is done right. Some decisions will never make sense to those effected by those decisions. That does not mean the process wasn’t followed. And if the process was followed, it’s hard to find a way to make a successful grievance. That doesn’t mean if there is a genuine mistake or error we will ignore it, it just means we have to have solid proof that the process didn’t work. So if there was an error – identify it and bring it to our attention. That being said it turns out the number for ATSS are higher than what I was made aware of and DCSS, STC, and BGS/ SpectraTech also have significant numbers of reduction in force (RIF). Each layoff is a person! Each person is going to have different challenges. We need to rally to support of brother and sisters in their time of need. We have seen how the Government wants to treat the heroes that supported them when times were good. Those that get to stay employed should keep in mind that now the Government is going to expect you work more to make these decisions seem justified. I would recommend that you do not do more with less. People get hurt that way, so keep safety in the forefront of your mind. The government and contractors are going to expect you to work outside your job description. If the government now has no one that is a specialist in Apple computers, you shouldn’t take on the challenge outside your job description to become that Apple computer expert just because you think it shows loyality to the mission. The decisions just made that resulted in this layoff speak for themselves. The government believes it can do the work with less people. OK… show us you can do it without making people do unsafe acts because we don’t have the right people. Don’t do Tech 4 work for Tech 2 pay. Army leaders believe they are “right sizing” the contractor force. If the mission stops because of these decisions, then let it stop rather than risk your own safety to fill the vacuum they just created. Work to your job description and be safe. If the mission fails – you still go home safe. So carefully evaluate what you are being asked to do. If it needs more people – speak up and ask for more people. If the right crew is not available – don’t risk your health or safety trying to meet a mission that they expect to do with less people. Remember a handful of your co-workers died doing this job in the past decade. And they never really fixed much about the way we work. Now is not the time to see a fellow employee doing this because you want to show faith in a mission that does not have faith in you. This is what I put out Monday, August 7th:

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Statement on ATSS Reduction in Force scheduled for August 7th, 2023. Members of the Local Lodge 2424: At 5:16pm on Sunday, August 6th, local lodge 2424 leaders were notified that Aberdeen Test Support Services (ATSS) prime contractor Jacobs Technology and sub contractor companies intend to begin a reduction in force (RIF) on Monday August 7th. Leaders were told that approximately 70 ATSS members will be laid off in the coming days. This is terrible news for those workers and their families. This news had been a rumor for months, but now we know. What do we do now? The companies will share a list of workers intended for RIF with the ATSS chief shop steward in the morning of August 7th. The chief shop steward will be able to see and compare if ATSS is using the most current seniority lists that covers these union members on the ATSS CBA. In the past, these lists have been current and seniority was correctly used. We do not expect differently tomorrow, but we will still ensure that the list is correct. Some workers will be notified nearly immediately that they are being laid off, but not every worker intended for RIF will get notice the first day. It is the company’s responsibility to notify workers effected. The union will not share the list, because it is not our role, nor is this first list always the last word. The US Government has, in the past, changed the numbers required for lay off after the initial list. The union nor company have no control over this. The companies apply the numbers, the union ensures the numbers recognize the seniority list. The union does not add to the stress of this time. It will be stressful enough for those going through this. Over the coming days we expect roughly 70 workers to be notified. We are here to support them. At the local lodge’s April 2023 general meeting, a motion was made and passed to cover the “unemployment stamps” of $2 per month for those workers laid off. That applied to the workers laid off in April 2023 and will apply to those being laid off this month, on the ATSS contract or any other union contract within local lodge 2424. This means these workers remain in good standing, and active members of this local lodge for one year, which in the case of these workers would be until September 30, 2024. These laid off members should be eligible for Maryland unemployment benefits if they have not recently exhausted their eligibility. Maryland unemployment pays a maximum of $430 per week for up to 26 weeks. That is maximum of $11,180.00 in a six month period. Those laid off should consider that they will receive at least one pay check in the coming weeks – and any income reduces the weekly unemployment benefit, so it may benefit members to delay their initial unemployment claim until a couple or few weeks from now when they receive no income. That maximizes the weekly benefit. As part of the Maryland Unemployment online claim system, those laid off are required to certify their claim every week, it’s best to do this on every Sunday, online. Part of that certification is to verify you looked for work, but as union members you are allowed to only check in with your union lodge. Our local lodge has job openings and recall announcements on our website, iam2424.com, so a search there qualifies as the unemployment requirement. Information will be updated there as we receive any new information. There will obviously be further questions for those involved. The office will be staffed and available to help. Every worker laid off gets a packet of information from the company and many of the union services and help are listed in that hand out, so PLEASE review that material. If that information is not specific enough to address a concern, please reach out and ask. But realize that the union has no control over who is on the list, so asking for a second opinion of the choices made by the government is usually an unanswerable question. That does not mean we are avoiding those questions and/or not concerned about the people involved – we are! Our role is simply to ensure that process follows the established agreements in the CBA. These are decisions that get made by the government and these companies, the union ensures they follow process. But do not hesitate to contact the lodge office if the question is outside the information in the hand out packet. Asking shop stewards why this person is leaving and another person is staying is usually way above that shop steward’s knowledge. So please don’t take frustration out on them. For those involved in this reduction in force (RIF) there is no way to put into words what this news means to each individual. Every worker has a different set of circumstances that apply to housing, food, health care, child care, family matters, and debt payments. Nothing we offer can replace the security they had from employment at ATSS for the time they have served the US Army and this Nation. But I will offer that I view each and every brother, sister, and sibling union member as a hero and a patriot for having given your talents and abilities in service of this Nation’s defense. All of you are heroes! It is a shame that the Army leaders keep contractors at arm’s length during these periods. It is often based on the advice of lawyers who only see problems rather than respect that is due. Many of you worked long hours, missed events and time with family, were exposed to harmful materials, and put the mission first over the your own interests. These jobs are good jobs with high pay, but when they come to an end, nothing blunts the punch to the gut that you are feeling. Just know your union family appreciates all you have done here and we hope to bring back as many as possible to employment. You have answered a patriotic call, and you deserve respect and dignity for it. I salute each and every one of you for the service to the mission here! Hopefully this is a speed bump for many and you eventually return to employment here or find another great opportunity. Whatever that road holds for you, your union family appreciates and supports you. Thank you for ALL your efforts here, and we hope new and better opportunities are ahead.

In solidarity.

Bill Harkum